Effects of ovarian stimulation on endometrial integrin β3 and leukemia inhibitory factor expression in the peri-implantation phase

Objective: To investigate the effects of ovarian stimulation on endometrial receptivity in the peri-implantation phase. Design: Comparison of integrin beta 3 and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) expression in endometrial biopsies from moderate responders and high responders with temporally matched natural cycles. Setting: Clinical and experimental research. Patient(s): Patients with cancelled embryo transfer were evaluated. Moderate responders were defined as E(2) 5,000-15,000 pmol/L on the day of hCG administration (group B, n = 7). High responders were defined as E(2) > 15,000 pmol/L on the day of hCG administration (group C, n = 8). Healthy and fertile volunteers were used as natural controls (group A, n = 10). Intervention(s): Endometrial biopsy on the day of LH+7/hCG+7. Main Outcome Measure(s): Immunohistochemistry of integrin beta 3 and LIF and imaging analysis. Result(s): Endometrial integrin beta 3 and LIF expressions in the peri-implantation phase were significantly lower in stimulated cycles (including both moderate and high responders) compared to natural controls. Expression of LIF in glandular epithelium in high responders was lower than that in moderate responders. Conclusion(s): These data demonstrated that suggested markers of endometrial receptivity were reduced in stimulated cycles compared with natural cycles, and more so in high response cycles compared with moderate response cycles.